ESA Holiday Reception A Playful/Powerful Party; Video Game Trade Association Toasts 20th Anniversary

NORTHWEST -- Government officials and gamers alike packed the second floor of the historic Warner Building on Wednesday evening, during the Entertainment Software Association's (ESA) annual holiday reception.

The playful affair served a dual purpose, however, in also celebrating the organization's 20th anniversary. Since it was founded in 1994, the ESA, which advocates on behalf of U.S. video game publishers, has seen industry revenues triple to approximately $21 billion each year.

As the digital and creative economies have increasingly grown in importance and complexity in recent years, so too have the issues confronting a business that both entertains and employs scores of Americans.

Computer and video game publishers now directly employ more than 42,000 individuals nationwide across 184 Congressional districts. And that number of jobs continues to grow at a robust 9% annual rate.

Not surprisingly, in a nod to the importance of the industry and the prominent role that the ESA plays in representing it, last night's party was crammed full of Hill staffers, lobbyists, government affairs powerbrokers, and, of course, plenty of members of Congress.

Between bites and beverages, guests were encouraged to try their hand (and feet) at a variety of games that had been scattered throughout the event space. And while the first release of Nintendo's iconic Super Mario Bros. franchise perhaps proved the most popular, it was Ubisoft's Just Dance stage that decidedly was the most entertaining.

Now on to the next level and another 20 years...